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Marathon County Attractions

Marathon County is the perfect place to enjoy outdoor activities of all kinds, plus much more! Located at the geographic center of the Northwestern Hemisphere, Marathon County offers scenic variety, a diversified economy, and a wide range of recreational, cultural and educational opportunities.

At the heart of Central Wisconsin, Marathon County is one of the state's most productive agricultural acres. Ginseng grown in Marathon County is highly prized throughout the world, and Marathon County dairy products are found on tables throughout the nation and beyond. Today Marathon County is also a leading producer of both paper and manufactured housing products.

The county's recreation areas include 30,000 acres of lake, 50,000 acres of public access land, 34 local parks, 23 county parks, 55 km of cross-country ski trails, 641 mi. of snowmobile trails, 450 mi. of ATV trails, 43.2 km of mountain bike trails, 118.35 mi. of hiking trails, 2 downhill ski areas, 8 swimming beaches, a world-class whitewater kayak and canoe course, 6 boat landings, 5 swimming pools, 21 softball/baseball fields, 23 tennis courts, 8 golf courses, and 11 ice skating rinks. For those who prefer indoor recreation, the area offers 6 private fitness clubs, 4 indoor tennis courts, 2 indoor ice skating rinks, 6 bowling centers, a YMCA, a YWCA, and a roller skating rink.

Art enthusiasts will find a treasure trove of beauty in Marathon County, including the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum's internationally acclaimed collections of bird art, Victorian glass, Royal Worcester Porcelain, and large scale outdoor sculpture display; and works of local and regional artists exhibited at the Center for the Visual Arts. Wausau's Grand Theatre, a restored 1927 Opera House, presents year-round on-stage events featuring local, national and international artists and entertainers; theatrical productions, musicals, dance companies, symphony orchestras, country and popular music headliners.

In Wausau's Andrew Warren Historic District, the area's rich architectural history is preserved in 60 historic buildings, mostly homes, many of which are elegantly restored. Housed in the 1900 neo-classical Cyrus Yawkey mansion, the Marathon county Historical Museum keeps the past alive with authentically furnished rooms reflecting the gracious living at the turn of the last Century along with artifacts of pre-European settlement through present day life in Marathon County. The area's unique agricultural history is also well preserved at Wausau's Antique Farm Machinery Museum.

Marathon County hosts dozens of special events and entertainment year-round, highlighted by the Badger State Winter Games, Classic Bike races, Dog Sled and Snowmobile Races, Car Shows, the Wisconsin Valley Fair, The Big Bull Falls Blues Festival, Antique and Home Shows, the Wisconsin Maple Festival and more.

In main street stores, shopping malls and out-on-the-way specialty shops Marathon County shoppers are served with hometown helpfulness and attention to their individual shopping needs. Diners have a lot to choose from in Marathon County, from family meals to haute cuisine served in elegant, award-winning restaurants ranked among the nation's best by "Restaurant Hospitality" and "Wine Spectator" magazines.

When day is done, Marathon County offers travelers a range of lodging choices; from campsites and economy motels to log-built mountain villas and elegant luxury suite hotels.

Marathon County -- a perfect place to visit and enjoy any time of the year!
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Museums and Historical Sites

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
700 North Twelfth St., Wausau
715-845-7010
Located in an English Cotswold-style mansion, the Woodson Art Museum's permanent collection celebrates nature with historic paintings, sculptures, and works on paper that focus on birds. The annual Fall "Birds in Art" exhibition attracts both international artists and visitors from around the world. The Woodson's "Outdoor Galleries," located in the mansion's beautifully manicured sculpture garden, features large pieces and groups of works by internationally acclaimed artists. Indoors, visitors will find extensive collections of Royal Worcester porcelains, Victorian glass baskets, and Steuben Glassware. Open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Saturday through Sunday, noon - 5:00 p.m. Closed Mondays and major holidays.

Marathon County Historical Museum
403 McIndoe St., Wausau
715-848-6143
The Marathon County Historical Museum is housed in a National Registered Historical Landmark, the neo-classical home built in 1900 for Cyrus Yawkey. The exterior of the mansion remains unchanged and the interior features an authentically furnished music room, dining room, and parlor that reflect the gracious living of a bygone era. The rooms of the second and third floors have been remodeled to house rotating and visiting local and regional history exhibits. From April to October, visitors will find a colorful array of native wildflowers, perennials, annuals and herbs in the museum's formal gardens. Open Tuesday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Saturday - Sunday, 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Closed Monday, Friday and major holidays.

Antique Farm Machinery Museum
Marathon Park, Wausau
715-261-1550
Area people, proud of their agricultural heritage, invite visitors to experience the history of farming in North-central Wisconsin. The museum houses a collection of tools and equipment, from early milking machines and field equipment to early 19th century hand tools. Open daily during the Wisconsin Fair, or by appointment.

Center for the Visual Arts
427 Fourth Street, Wausau
715-842-4545
The Center for the Visual Arts, housed in a registered landmark building, features works of local and regional artists in a variety of media. The center also features thematic exhibits throughout the year and offers classes in all art media to all age groups.
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Nature Centers and Parks

Rib Mountain State Park
Highway 51, Exit 188, Wausau
715-359-4522
Covering over 680 acres, Rib Mountain State Park boasts a well-maintained network of hiking and nature trails that allow visitors to enjoy many wildflowers and other plants growing throughout the park. On rare occasions, the quiet hiker may come across deer grazing along the pathways. Campsites, picnic areas, an interpretive center, scenic overlooks and a 60-foot observation tower provide a spectacular view of the Wausau area and surrounding countryside.

Nine Mile Recreation Area
Red Bud Rd., SW, Wausau
715-261-1580
At the Nine Mile Recreation Area, nordic skiers and mountain bikers will find peaceful grandeur, exceptional beauty and trails designed to challenge skiers and cyclists of all abilities. In winter, the area's heavily wooded trails offer a unique blend of forest types and scenic views for snowmobilers as well as cross-country skiers. The ski trails have been widened to accommodate skaters and diagonal skiers in winter, and mountain cyclists from May through mid-September. There is plenty of parking and a heated trailhead building with indoor facilities including a changing area, restrooms, a spacious lounging area, beverages and equipment rentals. In the cycling season, trails are marked and mowed to provide over 43km of varying terrain for biking enthusiasts.

Lake Wausau
Rib Mountain, Schofield, Wausau
Winding around the southern part of the Wausau city limits to the western limits of the city of Schofield, Lake Wausau may be one of the great undiscovered fisheries in the state. Public boat landings in a number of locations offer easy access. On the western shore, in the town of Rib Mountain, visitors will find family-friendly Bluegill Park, a 68-acre scenic park of interconnected islands, designed with children in mind. The park offers multiple boat ramps, open shelters and a shoreline that provides fishing for children. DC Everest Park, at the south end of Wausau's Third Avenue, offers a boat landing and is the home of the Wausauqua Water-Ski shows in the Summer.

Marathon County Mountain Bay Trail
550 Schofield Ave., Weston
715-261-1550
Built on an abandoned rail corridor that stretches 83 miles from Weston to Green Bay, the Mountain Bay Trail offers 18 miles of trail in Marathon County for hiking and cycling in summer and snowmobiling and ATV use in the winter. Parking and restroom facilities are available at the western trailhead, located behind the Weston Municipal Center.

Granite Peak Ski Area at Rib Mountain State Park
Wausau
715-845-2846
One of Wisconsin's premier ski facilities, Granite Peak features a total of 74 runs spread over the face of this 700 foot mountain. There are acres of wide open beginner runs, mile-long intermediate cruising runs, and two mogul runs. There is an amazing half-pipe and dozens of hits, jumps, rails and other terrain features Also, super-steep expert chutes and tree skiing glades - terrain for all abilities! You can ski for days and still be discovering new runs! This incredible and diverse terrain is served by the most modern lift system in the Midwest including 6 chairlifts and the Midwest's longest high speed chairlift. With its Wisconsin Northwood's location, Granite Peak features some of the best and most reliable snow in the region from mid November through early April.
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Special Things to Do

Farmers Markets
Enjoy farm fresh produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, jams, jellies, preserves, syrups, and more. In season, gardeners will find a variety of bedding plants, annuals and perennials. Non-gardeners will find fresh cut flowers and vegetables. Amidst the food, fun and flowers market-goers may also find unusual art and craft items, music and entertaining street performers. Marathon County markets are:
300 River Drive, Wausau, Wednesday - Saturday, May 1 - November 30.
Cedar Creek Factory Stores, Rothschild, Saturday 7:00 a.m. - Noon.

Big Bull Falls Blues Festival
Fern Island Park, Wausau
715-845-6231
In August, Wausau's Fern Island Park is home to the area's premier musical extravaganza, the Big Bull Falls Blues Festival. Featuring nationally known blues performers, the two-day event draws true blues fans from far and wide. In addition to hours of headlining musical entertainment, the festival offers food, beverages and great island scenery.
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Points of Interest

Andrew Warren Historic District
East Side, Wausau
715-355-8788
View sixty-two historic buildings, mostly homes, in this architecturally significant area. Buildings from the Prairie School of architecture and examples of Greek Revival, Queen Anne and Neoclassical Revival styles are included in the self-guided tour of the neighborhood. Brochures describing the district are available at area museums and the Wisconsin Historic Landmarks Commission.

Center of the Northwest Hemisphere
Highway 29 West, Poniatowski
Visit the geographic center of the northwestern hemisphere. The exact location of 45 degrees longitude and 90 degrees latitude, the point halfway between the Equator and the North Pole and halfway between Greenwich, England and the International Dateline is marked with a small park.

Salem Lutheran Church Pipe Organ
2822 Sixth St., Wausau
715-845-2822
Modeled after a 17th century design used in constructing organs for Johann Sebastian Bach, this completely mechanical organ combines metal pipes manufactured in Germany with wood pipes and solid oak cabinetry crafted in the US. Organists are encouraged to listen and to play this authentic Baroque period reproduction. Hours are by appointment only. Demonstrations are also available by making advance arrangements.

The Grand Theater
415 Fourth St., Wausau
715-842-0988
Originally opened in 1927 as an opera house, the Grand Theater is a beautiful classic-revival structure containing stunning examples of colonnades, marble statuary and a solid Bedford limestone façade. Restored to its past glory in 1987, the theater was provided with a fully computerized lighting and sound system and extensive stage rigging. Today, the theater hosts both touring and local concert and theatrical productions. Call for calendar of events and viewing opportunities.

Wausau Whitewater Course
River Drive, Wausau
715-845-8200
In downtown Wausau, the rapids that first provided power to the lumber mills of Wausau's early settlers have become the site of world-class whitewater and canoe competitions. The course combines a natural riverbed and vertical drop with dam-controlled waterflow to guarantee a consistent level of difficulty independent of wet or dry weather. Equipped with spectator seating, the course is a popular choice for whitewater enthusiasts. In 2000, the Wausau Whitewater Course will host the Slalom/Mid America Series Race #1 and Wausau Freestyle Kayak Championship. For more information, check out the Wausau Kayak and Canoe Corporation web site.

The Wausau Depot
720 Grant St., Wausau
715-355-8788
The railroad depot pictured in Wausau Insurance Company's internationally recognized corporate logo, restored in 1977, still stands at 720 Grant Street. But, the city skyline pictured in the logo stands behind another depot, located on Washington Street, which has also been restored and is currently used for office space. A replica of the Grant Street Depot, built for the Wausau Insurance Company, can be seen at the Westwood Conference Center, 1800 West Bridge Street. Back to top